(19)
(11) EP 1 341 418 A2

(12)

(88) Date of publication A3:
06.03.2003

(43) Date of publication:
10.09.2003 Bulletin 2003/37

(21) Application number: 01995423.9

(22) Date of filing: 09.11.2001
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: A22C 17/00, A22B 5/00
(86) International application number:
PCT/US0147/131
(87) International publication number:
WO 0204/3502 (06.06.2002 Gazette 2002/23)
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE TR
Designated Extension States:
AL LT LV MK RO SI

(30) Priority: 01.12.2000 US 727729

(71) Applicant: FMC Technologies, Inc.
Chicago, IL 60601 (US)

(72) Inventors:
  • WIJTS, Corneel, Constant
    Redmond, WA 98053 (US)
  • RUDY, Norman, A.
    Snohomish, WA 98296 (US)
  • VOGELEY, Arthur, W., Jr.
    Seattle, WA 98112 (US)
  • SAFAI, Morteza
    Seattle, WA 98199 (US)

(74) Representative: Giver, Sören Bo et al
Awapatent AB,P.O. Box 5117
200 71 Malmö
200 71 Malmö (SE)

   


(54) APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DETECTING AND REMOVING UNDESIRABLE MATERIAL FROM WORKPIECES